Soccer Thread 2013-14

[bhlloy]

Anyone watching the u21 final? Incredible start considering these two teams have only conceded once the whole tournament

[whomario]

Spain was scary good all tournament, guess the golden generation will be replaced rather seemlessly afterall ...

[Butter]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Tahiti Scores! We have the Miracle on Grass....

I just want to know how the crap Tahiti made it to the Confederations Cup.

[bhlloy]

Basically beat New Zealand... Since Australia is in the Asian confederation now Oceania is a very sad region. They don't even get a guaranteed World Cup spot but the confederations cup is more of a friendly tournament.

Spain U21 are scary good, like a mini Barcelona team the way they play. Certainly replacing class with class

[Butter]

I see. I was just looking that up and see that the 4th Place CONCACAF gets to play New Zealand (the already determined OFC champion) for the right to go to 2014 WC. I guess that's why Australia wanted out?

[whomario]

didn´t even have to beat New Zealand, the Kiwis somehow lost to New Caledonia in the semifinal.

[whomario]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

I see. I was just looking that up and see that the 4th Place CONCACAF gets to play New Zealand (the already determined OFC champion) for the right to go to 2014 WC. I guess that's why Australia wanted out?

as far as i remember it, Australia wanted out due to lack of competition holding their development back. Then after they switched, FIFA adjusted the qualification process.
(so Australia didn´t go out for better chance but went out of OFC despite facing tougher odds in Asia)

EDIT: OK, FIFA did adjust it but only changing the confederations that´d go up against each other. So they propably alos though it´d be easier (or at least less random) doing it in Asia.

[dacman]

They should just lump Oceania into Asia and split it geographically -- would hopefully help with some of the ridiculous travel. Just check South Korea's road trips in their qualifying group (Lebanon, Kuwait, UAE).

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Anyone watching the u21 final? Incredible start considering these two teams have only conceded once the whole tournament

I was impressed by the Italians' playing style in he semi finals. They are clearly ready to play old school demolition-football.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by whomario

EDIT: OK, FIFA did adjust it but only changing the confederations that´d go up against each other. So they propably alos though it´d be easier (or at least less random) doing it in Asia.

These matchups were drawn, fwiw.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by dacman

They should just lump Oceania into Asia and split it geographically -- would hopefully help with some of the ridiculous travel. Just check South Korea's road trips in their qualifying group (Lebanon, Kuwait, UAE).

Somehow I think it's easier for South Korea to visit those states than visiting the tiny countries of the Oceania confederation.

[SirFozzie]

ALTIGOL!

[kingfc22]

JOZY!!!

[DaddyTorgo]

Jozy!!!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Zusi has been fabulous in his setups tonight. Great to see him playing so well.

[DaddyTorgo]

What? Tied for the longest goal-scoring streak in US history??

To think that's true with all the crap we give him is kinda mind-blowing.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Zusi has been fabulous in his setups tonight. Great to see him playing so well.

Him + Fabian Johnson make all the difference in the world in getting the ball in from wide areas.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

Him + Fabian Johnson make all the difference in the world in getting the ball in from wide areas.

Really should be a couple more goals on the board for the U.S. Some poor finishing by the strikers tonight.

[MrBug708]

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

What? Tied for the longest goal-scoring streak in US history??

To think that's true with all the crap we give him is kinda mind-blowing.

Good for Jozy Altidore. He's been awesome this past season, especially the past months, yet Klinsmann looked desperate to find excuses to keep him out of the squad. Ironic how things can flow.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

Good for Jozy Altidore. He's been awesome this past season, especially the past months, yet Klinsmann looked desperate to find excuses to keep him out of the squad. Ironic how things can flow.

Or maybe, it was motivation.

[whomario]

So this Neymar fella is looking pretty good so far. Will be interesting to see him against Italy and hopefully later on Spain.

[cschex]

He was amazing yesterday. Also, that Kagawa goal against Italy was fantastic

[cougarfreak]

I read recently that something like all 1300 premier league games will be available to watch via NBC affiliates and online through NBC this upcoming season. That's awesome.

[Flasch186]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

I read recently that something like all 1300 premier league games will be available to watch via NBC affiliates and online through NBC this upcoming season. That's awesome.

This

[Easy Mac]

Will lead to a lot of divorces.

"what honey? I'll have to cut the grass later, I'm only halfway through the 120,000 minutes of premier league soccer I'm watching over the next 9 months."

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

I read recently that something like all 1300 premier league games will be available to watch via NBC affiliates and online through NBC this upcoming season. That's awesome.

That's quite impressive for a league that has only 380 games.

[DaddyTorgo]

Ridiculous goal by Delofeu for the Spain U-20''s against the US.

[DeToxRox]

MrBoywunder ‏@MrBoywunder4h
Liverpool have £9m bid accepted for Simon Mignolet as Sunderland move for striker Jozy Altidore Liverpool have £9m bid accepted for Simon Mignolet as Sunderland move for striker Jozy Altidore | Mail Online via @MailOnline

[DaddyTorgo]

Arrgh - not sure that's a good move for Jozy. He needs to be banging them in regularly in advance of the WC.

[sovereignstar v2]

I wouldn't say the competition at Sunderland is that great. They spent money of Fletcher and Wickham in recent seasons, but they are hardly world-beaters.

[bhlloy]

He was linked to Cardiff earlier this offseason. It would have been really to have a US forward who wasn't completely terrible after Eddie Johnson scoring one goal the entire season a few years back

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

I wouldn't say the competition at Sunderland is that great. They spent money of Fletcher and Wickham in recent seasons, but they are hardly world-beaters.

It's who they play against that I'm more worried about, not his competition for a place, but the difficulty he might have in scoring.

[whomario]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

It's who they play against that I'm more worried about, not his competition for a place, but the difficulty he might have in scoring.

If the US wants to get a better team, they need some more players to prove themselves against top flight competition. Altidore is among the few who might have a shot at this.

[Easy Mac]

So it's true, if a teammate doesn't set it up perfectly for Chicharito, he can't score.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by whomario

If the US wants to get a better team, they need some more players to prove themselves against top flight competition. Altidore is among the few who might have a shot at this.

He's better than Sunderland at this point

[sovereignstar v2]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

He's better than Sunderland at this point

I'd say playing for any non yo-yo EPL club is a nice next step for Joze.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

I'd say playing for any non yo-yo EPL club is a nice next step for Joze.

Don't underestimate the coaching and tactical aspect of learning at a team - for instance Stoke aren't a 'yo-yo' Premiership club, but if you're aiming to become a World Class player then I wouldn't recommend joining them as a youngster ...

(nothing against Stoke per-se, they hammered Brighton last year and play a good solid competitive style of football - but its a style which is self-limiting and will never win them the Premiership title, its hard to break down and is intent on maximizing the effectiveness of limited players (comparative to the best say Man Utd or Chelsea stars) rather than grooming World class players ...)

[sovereignstar v2]

I get your point, but Joze isn't going to be world class and playing for Sunderland and excelling could get him a job at Liverpool/Tottenham/Newcastle next.

[cartman]

My cousin and I took his 7 year old to his first pro soccer game on Saturday, to see FC Dallas host Sporting Kansas City. It looked like it was going to be a 2-0 loss for the home team, but Dallas scored 2 goals in the last 3 minutes to escape with a tie.

[SirFozzie]

So.. 18 of 20 Serie A teams raided by the police on tax evasion (only Bologna and Cagliari avoided the police).. 43 teams across the top 3 divisions and 12 player agents were raided. Yikes. Yet another blemish on Italian football

[miami_fan]

The same could be said for Turkish football

Fenerbahce given Champions League ban, Besiktas given Europa ban - ESPN FC

[SirFozzie]

As I teased DT, the very definition of chutzpah is making an eight figure purchase (Carlos Tevez to Juve for 12 millionpounds) the same day you're raided by tax police.

Although this keeps Juventus in line with AC Milan in the "Mercurial Striker" competition.

[cartman]

This Italy-Spain Confed Cup match has been awesome. The score is 0-0 late, but there have been tons of close calls for each team.

[cartman]

Going to PKs

[whomario]

The WC will be pretty unusual, the climate is definitely going to be a factor (not just the Heat, but the humidity) and if this tournament is any indication: The european style of pressuring high up the pitch and quick hitting attacks might not be the ideal tactic this time around.
The brasilians might actually have a shot next year, was pretty aparent that they dealt with the conditions really well and got better as the game went on.

Also, the games next year will be played at earlier start times afaic.

[cartman]

Spain wins on the 7th PK

[cartman]

It will be interesting to see if Brazil ends Spain's amazing unbeaten run. Can't wait for the final.

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by whomario

The WC will be pretty unusual, the climate is definitely going to be a factor (not just the Heat, but the humidity) and if this tournament is any indication: The european style of pressuring high up the pitch and quick hitting attacks might not be the ideal tactic this time around.
The brasilians might actually have a shot next year, was pretty aparent that they dealt with the conditions really well and got better as the game went on.

Also, the games next year will be played at earlier start times afaic.

There is also the possibility of near freezing temperatures in Port Alegre and Curitiba in the south of Brazil. One of the teams in Group E will need to play two games in colder conditions, then fly to the far north to play in one of the hottest cities.

As for kickoff times, 24 matches kick off at 1pm, 11 at 4pm, 18 at 5pm, 10 at 7pm and 1 at 10pm. All times mentioned are Brasília official time.

[cartman]

One amazing streak will end today. It will be either's Spain's 29 game unbeaten streak, stretching back to the 2010 World Cup, or Brazil's streak of not losing a competitive game at home since 1975.